Supplying mechanism



.lume 12, 1934.

E. A, HOLMGREN SUPPLYING MECHANISM Original Filed April 13, 1925 2 Shenets-Sheet 1 .ff a@ .u I 6 70 I l l. 66 l 106 i l 00 www m j 152 um A* T June 12, 1934. E. A. HoLMGRr-:N

' SUPPLYING MECHANISM 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 15 `to be made.

Patented `lune 12, 1934 SUPPLYING MECHANISM Eric A. Holmgren, Lynn, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of `New Jersey Original application April 13, 1925, Serial No. 22,624. Divided and this application May 7,

1930, Serial N0. 450,537

21 Claims.

This Vinvention relates to mechanism for supplylng work-portions to vmachines which are to operate-upon them, it being especially applicable to means for delivering `layers of fabric for their combination with other layers to furnish insoles of shoes. The purpose of the invention is to generally improve mechanism of this character, though it is to beunderstood that its field is by no means limited'to-thefeeding of insole-material. The present case is a division of the application for Letters Patent ofthe lUnited States filed in my name on April 18, 1925, and bearing the Serial No. 22,624, this parent application having, on November 3, 1931,' become Patent No. 1,830,604.

A particular featurel ofthe invention concerns the variation in dimensions of a holder or magazine for Workportions, wherebymembers which position said portions may be moved to correspond to the size of the insole or other object which is It further provides for 'effective presentation in a holder of the work-portions to the means which is to transfer them to the apparatus supplied, and'for their certain engagement by the transferringmeans.V

Another feature of the invention is found in the means by which the work-portions are'transferred from their holders to the operating means. Mechanism is provided which is both simple and certain in action.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one of the several possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 being a broken side elevation thereof;

Fig. 2, a sectional detail taken longitudinally hrough the sheave supporting the counterbalancing weight for the magazine-platform of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a sectional top plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. i; and

Fig. 4 showing the transfer device and immediately adjacent elements of the magazine in broken side elevation.

There is supported upon a bracket 41 projecting from a frame 26, a skeleton magazine-frame `42. Situated axially of the magazine and fixed in the frame below it is a vertical guide-rod 44, about which moves a sleeve 46 having fixed upon its upper extremity a platform 47 for the support of such work-portions F as fabric layers of composite insoles, these layers being arranged in a stack. The platform, the parts which carry it, and the supportedmaterial are counterbalanced by a weight 48, which is hung upon a cord 50 wound about a sheave 52 rotatable upon the bracket 41. The opposite end of the cord is attached to an arm 49 clamped on the sleeve 46 and sliding upon a vertical rod 51 secured to the frame. Rotatable with the sheave is a ratchetwheel 54, with which co-operates a spring-actuated detent 56, holding the platform and stack against downward movement. To position the top of the stack at the desired level as the workpieces are removed therefrom, elevating mechanism is provided, actuated with a mechanism T, which effects the transfer of the blanks from the magazine to operating mechanism. Theelevating mechanismincludes a pawl 58 engaging the teeth of the wheel 54 and pivoted upon a lever 60 fulcrumed upon the frame and forked to engage a sleeve 62 of the transferring mechanism T, this sleeve being arranged for reciprocaticn upon the rod 5l. Movement of the sleeve occurs each time a piece is transferred from the magazine; and at the same time, through the lever 60, pawl 58 and Y ratchet 54, the sheave is turned to lift the platform 47 through a predetermined distance. The extent of this feed is somewhat more than the thickness of one of the fabric pieces, so that the transferring instrumentality may always find the element which it is to engage slightly above the level to which the transferring mechanism de` scends, and therefore in position to receive firm Contact. This excess of engaging movement ofV the transfer mechanism is permitted by frictional connections between the ratchet-wheel and the sheave. The former has a sleeve 64 turning upon a spindle 66 projecting from the bracket 41, the adjacent faces of the sheave and ratchet engaging frictionally. At the opposite end of the sheave is Va thrust-bearing 68, against the outer side of which acts a spring-washer 70, this, in turn, abutting against a split nut 72 clamped upon the sleeve. A nut and washer 74 upon the outer extremity of the spindle 66 hold all these co-operating elements against displacement. The force exerted by the washer is sufficient to cause the ratchet and sheave to normally rotate together. When, however, the platform is held agaist movement by the detent 56 and the transfer mechanism engages the top piece F upon the stack supported upon the platform, the sheave will yield under the pressure, yet offering such resistance as to insure firm contact between the work-portion and the element engaging it. Fixed to turn adjustably below the pawl 58 is a stopsleeve 75. This has an eccentric or flattened portion, over which the pawl moves without interference. If it is desired to check the upward feed of the fabric without stopping the other elements of the machine, this sleeve may beY llil l CII turned until its rounded portion comes opposite the pawl, lifting this from the ratchet-wheel So that, in the reciprocation of the pawl, said ratchetwheel will not be operated, and the platform will remain at rest. This is of utility in testing and adjusting the apparatus, or upon completing the operation at the end of a period of use. To maintain the effect of the weight 48 in a substantially constant relation to the opposing force exerted by the stack of pieces F, as this varies with the number of pieces upon the platform, a compensating device is associated with the counterbalance, This is furnished by the form of the sheave, which has a spiral, stepped groove '76 for engagement by the turns of the cord 50 wound about it. The steps are of greatest diameter at the ends of the sheave, and least at the center. When the stack is at its maximum height, and therefore heaviest, the extremity of the cord bearing the weight will be at the outer portion of the sheave upon the highest step, while the extremity of the cord connected to the platform will be near the center of said sheave. As the platform rises and the weight falls, the relation will be reversed, the Weight-end of the cord descending the incline, and the platform-end rising at the opposite side. In this way, the leverage exerted is gradually oppositely varied, so the effect of the weight is diminished and increased proportionately to the number of work-pieces upon t e platform. Therefore, the normal force which the frictional device between the sheave and ratchet is called upon to resist is kept substantially constant.

The work-portions F, which may be of different sizes, corresponding to those of the soles into which they are toy enter, are correctly positioned in the magazine by vertical contact-rods extending the entire height of the magazine and arranged in pairs 78, 'Z8 and 80, 80, these pairs being, respectively, at opposite sides and near the extremities of the heel and toe-portions. The rods are carried upon arms 81 pivoted at 82 upon the magazine-frame 42, and are arranged to be moved together by a linkage 84 so proportioned that the shift in the position of one of the rods 'I8 will similarly move the companion heel-rod, while the toe-rods will have their positions altered correspondingly. The settings of th'e rods are determined and positively maintained by a nger-lever 86 secured to turn with one of the arms 81 and having a spring-pressed detent 88 engaging any one of a series of notches 90 in a segmental plate 92 mounted upon the lower portion of the magazine-frame. Associated with' the notches are sole-size designations, indicating the settings of the rods to give the correct positioning of the work-pieces in the magazine. This movement of the lever 86, by a proper proportioning of the arms and connections, gives a simultaneous adjustment of all the rods for each size of sole which is to be produced, and therefore for the operating mechanism supplied.

To transfer the work-portions one by one from the magazines to the operating mechanism, there is preferably employed pneumatic mechanism T. Upon the sleeve 62 is carried a horizontally extending hollow arm 100, at the outer end of which is a contact-head 102 having in its under side three spaced openings 104. These openings are so related that they will co-operate with the fabric pieces F in the stack over areas extending transversely near the center and in proximity to the opposite ends. nto the arm opens a conduit 106, through which a suction is maintained by any appropriate means. This conduit is preferably flexible, to permit movement of the arm 100, an includes a swiveled joint 108, which also facilitates this. The suction-head has imparted to it vertical movement into and out of co-operation with the top of the stack in t`-e magazine, to engage and remove the terminal work-piece, and a corresponding movement into proximity to the operating mechanism, to deposit the piece thereon, and then from the operating mechanism preparatory to return to the magazine. It is also oscillated horizontally to effect such transfer from the magazine to the operating mechanism, and the return for the succeeding transfer. To raise and lower the head, the groove in the sleeve 62, which is engaged by the lever 60, also receives the forked end of a bell-crank-lever fulcrumed upon an extension from the bracket 41. The other arm of the lever 110 is joined by a connecting-rod 112 to a lever 114 pivoted for horizontal movement and having a projection 115 entering a cam-groove in a rotatable disk 116. The connections to.` the lever 114 may extend to different operating mechanisms, to simultaneously actuate the transfer mechanisms T ther-eat.

The disk 116 is fast upon the upper extremity of a shaft 118, which includes an inclined section, and which is geared to some such source of power as a portion of the machine to be supplied. The suction-head is turned about its vertical axis through a gear-segment 124 fixed upon the sleeve 62 and having meshing with it a rack 126, sliding upon the magazine-support and joined by a rod 128 to a bell-crank-lever 130. A projection 131 from the lever 130 enters a cam-groove in the upper face of the disk 116, The relation between the cam and the connecting mechanisms, which respectively raise and lower and turn each suction-head, is such that said head is swung horizontally from the operating mechanism to the magazine; then depressed until it contacts with the top piece of fabric; raised to its former position; again turned until it is over the operating mechanism; lowered to deliver the transferred piece; and raised and returned for another transferring cycle.

For the purpose of temporarily holding the work-portions against the openings 104 of each head 102 for their elevation from the stack, their transfer and nnal release, the passage of air through the openings is controlled by valve mechanism actuated in the movement of the head. In the conduit 106, at its junction with the head, is a slot in which operates a valve-plate 132 mounted to oscillate upon a pivot 3.34. Adjacent to the conduit-connection, the head has a reliefopening 136. The plate 132 has two lobes, in one of which is an opening 13S, while the other is imperforate. When the opening 138 is alined with the conduit, so that this is in communication with the head 102, the relief-opening 136 is closed by the plate. When sai-d plate is swung in the opposite direction upon its pivot, the imperforate portion moves between the conduit and the opening in the arm to close this, simultaneously freeing the relief-opening. Secured upon the pivot 134 is a small plate 140, slotted at its edge to furnish opposite contact-faces 142, 142, which, in the movement of the plate 132, may strike a pin 144 projecting from the arm 100. The extremes of movement of the valve-plate, as has just been described, are determined by these contacts. A spring 146, extending between an arm 146 fixed to the pivot and the arm 100, acts to hold either of the contact-faces 142 against the pin.

Upon the opposite extremities of the plate 140 are contact-projections 150, 152. When the head 102 is over the magazine, the projection 150 is vertically alined with an actuating projection 154 rising near said magazine. Upon the descent of the head for engagement with the upper piece F, the projection 150 strikes the projection 151i, swinging the valve-plate 152 into position to open communication between the suction-conduit and head, and to close the relief-opening. This causes the air-current established through the head to hold the work-piece rmly against the openings 104, loss of the suction effected through the opening 136 being avoided by its closure by the valve-plate. This relation continues until the descent of the head over the operating mechanism. Then the projection 15?l contacts with actuating projection 156 rising from the frame. Again the valve-plate is moved, this time to close the suction-conduit and free the relief-opening. This causes the release of the transferred piece from the head. 102.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a container for workportions to be operated upon, said container having a support for work-portions and positioning members co-operating therewith, of means arranged to move said positioning members simultaneously through different distances to correspond to the size of work-portion to be held in the container.

2. The combination with a container having a platform upon which sole-portions may be supported and movable members arranged to contact with opposite sides of the supported sole-portions, of means arranged to move the members simultaneously through different distances at the heeland toe-portions of the sole to be heldin the container and to an extent determined by the size of said sole.

3. The combination with a platform for supporting work-portions, of positioning members arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the workportions, connections between the pairs of members arranged to cause them to move together, and means for securing the members against movement in different positions.

4. The combination with a platform for supporting work-portions, of positioning members arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the workportions, connections between the pairs of members, a setting member acting upon the positioning members through the connections, and means for securing the setting member in different predetermined positions corresponding to work-sizes.

5. The combination with a horizontal platform, of positioning rods rising at opposite sides of the platform, levers carrying the rods, connections between the levers, a setting member arranged to move the connections, and an index-plate determining the setting of said member.

6. The combination with transferring means for work-portions movable from a receiving to a delivering position and driving means therefor, of a holder situated at the receiving position and including a support for work-portions, toward `which support the transferring means moves, and

means actuated by the driving means for moving the support through a predetermined distance to carry the work-portions thereon past the receiving point of the transferring means.

7. The combination with transferring means for work-portions movable from a receiving to a delivering position, of a holder situatedat there-- ceiving position and including a support for work-portions, toward which support the transferring means moves, means for moving the support through a predetermined distance to carry the work-portions thereon past the receiving point of the transferring means, and means arranged to permit the support to yield under the pressure of the transferring means while the moving means remains at rest.

8. The combination with a magazine having a platform for supporting sole-portions, of a transferring device movable horizontally between the operating means and magazine and vertically into receiving position above the magazine-platform and into delivering position, means for elevating the platform to raise the supported sole-portions above the receiving position of the transferring device, and frictional connections between the platform and elevating means.

9. The combination with a platform, of a transferring device movable vertically above the platform into contact with work-pieces supported thereon, means for elevating the platform toward the transferring device, and frictional connections between the elevating means and platform.

10. The combination with transferring means including a movable head provided with a suction-opening, of a magazine having a support for work-portions to be transferred, means for moving the support into position for engagement of the work-portions by the head, and connections between the supporting and moving means permitting said support to yield under the pressure of the head while the moving means remains at rest.

11. The combination with a magazine provided with a movable support for work-portions, of a transferring device movable into engagement with a work-portion upon the support, means for moving the transferring device, means for moving the support in preparation for the engagement of the work-portion by the transferlos ring device, and connections from the moving d means for the transferring device to the supportmoving means to actuate the latter.

12. The combination with a magazine provided with a platform for supporting work-portions, of a transferring device movable vertically into engagement with work-portions upon the Il? platform. a ratchet-wheel rotatable to elevate the platform, a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel and being movable to produce the platform-elevating rotation of said ratchet-wheel. and a member carrying the pawl and actuated by engagement with the transferring device.

13. The combination with a magazine provided with a platform for supporting work-portions, of a reciprocatory sleeve, a suction-head carried by the sleeve for engagement with workportions upon the platform, a ratchet-wheel, connections between the ratchet-wheel and the platform, and a pawl oscillated in the reciprocation of the sleeve to rotate the ratchet-wheel.

14. In a magazine, the combination with a movable platform, of a flexible member connected to the platform and carrying a balancing weight, a spindle, a sheave free to turn about the spindle and over which the flexible member operates,

an actuating member rotatable about the spina sheave having stepped portions increasing in diameter in opposite directions and over which the exible member operates, rotating means, and frictional connections between the sheave and rotating means.

16. In a magazine, the combination with a movable platform, of a exible member connected to the platform and carrying a balancing weight, a sheave over which the flexible member operates, a ratchet-wheel contacting with the sheave, means for forcing the sheave and ratchet-wheel together, a pawl co-operating with the ratchetwheel, means for oscillating the pawl, and a detent co-operating with the ratchet-wheel.

1'?. In a magazine, the combination with a movable platform, of a flexible member connected to the platform and carrying a balancing weight, a sheave having portions increasing in diameter from the center to its opposite extremities and over which the flexible member oyerates, and means for rotating the sheave.

18. In a magazine, the combination with a movable platform, of a ilexible member connected to the platform and carrying a balancing weight, a slieave having stepped portions increasing in diameter outwardly from the center and over which the flexible member operates, a ratchet-wheel rotatable at one extremity of the sheave, and means for forcing the ratchet-wheel and sheave into frictional engagement.

19. The combination with a movable head provided with a suction-opening and a relief-opening, of a suction-conduit connected to the head, a valve-plate pivoted between the head and conduit and movable to simultaneously contrl the relief-opening and the passage between the head and conduit, a plate secured to the valve-pivot, and Xed Contact means located at the extremes of movement of the head an-d arranged for engagement with the plate to actuate the valve.

20. The combination with a movable worksupporting platform, of members for positioning the work upon the platform and between which said platform is movable, a movable carrier for each positioning member, connections between the carriers, and a setting and retaining member joined to the connections and positively holding the positioning members in predetermined positions.

21. The combination with a movable platform, of rods between which the platform is movable, a carrier for each rod, connections between the carriers, a setting member joined to the connections, and an indeX-olate provided with means for retaining the setting member.

ERIC A. HOLMGREN.

ISG 

